Training Formula C

Literature and Research Review

Epstein’s Framework on Involvement• “A philosophy, culture, and process; overlapping

influence on education/well-being of children and adults.”

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Researcher, Joyce Epstein, Director, National Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships

Epstein’s Framework on Involvement • Parenting. Assist families with parenting skills, family

support, understanding child and adolescent development, and setting home conditions, too.

• Communicating. Create two-way communication channels between school and home that are effective and reliable.

• Volunteering. Improve recruitment and training to involve families as volunteers and as audiences at the school or in other locations.

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Epstein’s Framework on Involvement (2)• Learning at Home. Include families with their children in

academic learning at home, homework, goal setting, and curriculum-related activities.

• Decision Making. Include families as participants in school decisions, as well as in governance/advocacy activities.

• Collaborating with the Community. Coordinate resources/services for families/students/school with community groups, businesses, agencies, cultural/civic organizations/colleges/universities.

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Family Engagement is:• A SHARED RESPONSIBILITYSchools and other community agencies and organizations are committed to engaging

families in meaningful ways, and families are committed to actively supporting their children’s learning and development.

• CRADLE TO CAREERFamily Engagement is continuous across a child’s life, from early head start to college and

career.

• ACROSS CONTENTSFamily Engagement is carried out everywhere that children learn— home, in pre-Ks, school,

after-school programs, faith-based institutions, and community programs and activities.

National Family and Community Engagement Working Group, 2009

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What successful schools do…• Focus on building trusting, collaborative relationships

among teachers, families and community members• Recognize, respect, and address families’ needs, as

well as class and cultural differences• Embrace a philosophy of partnership where power

and responsibility are shared

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A New Wave of Evidence (Henderson and Mapp, 2002)

Collaboration

Collaboration meansWorking out how to

Work together.

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Collaboration Stages and MilestonesStage 1: Getting together• Evaluate the progress• Set initial ground rules• Involve the right people• Decide to actReflect and celebrate

Together We Can: A guide for Crafting a Profamily System of Education and Human Service)

Step 2: Build trust and ownership• Evaluate the progress• Identify planning resources• Revisit and revise ground rules• Commit to elaborate• Define shared vision• Develop common base of

knowledge• Engage partnerReflect and celebrate

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Collaboration Stages and Milestones (2)Stage 3: Developing a Strategic Plan• Evaluate the progress• Develop a plan of action• Evaluate and select strategies• Establish well formed goals• Assess the environment and the

collaboratives capabilities• Develop a mission statementReflect and celebrate

Step 4: Taking Action• Evaluate the progress• Adapt and expand initiative• Deepen collaborative culture• Implement plan of action• Formalize interagency

relationshipsReflect and celebrate

Together We Can: A guide for Crafting a Profamily System of Education and Human Service)

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Qualities and Skills of Collaborative Leaders• Listening and communicating• Building visions• Risk-taking• Respect for diversity• Knowledge and skills in

group process• Conflict management

• Organized/decisive• Consensus building• Motivational/passionate• Empowering• Reflective• Flexible• Knowledgeable about other

systems

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Source: Institute for Educational Leadership. Leadership for Collaboration: A National Dialogue. Washington, DC 1992.From: Home-School-Community Relations. Training Manual & Student Guide. By Larry E. Decker & Associates. Mid-Atlantic Center for Community Education. University of Virginia March 1994. p. 92-93